Soon, a vaccine for cervical cancer

‘‘The collaboration is part of international trials that have been conducted in many countries and the vaccine has been found to be effective,’’ said Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss.

The vaccine has been successful in controlling the virus in adolescent girls in trials in Europe and Africa.‘‘This is the only vaccine which has been found to be 100 per cent safe in other parts of the world,’’ said Dr N.K. Ganguly, Director General ICMR.

India would be the only country in Asia to go for the trials. The reason for testing in the Indian population, apart from the efficacy, is the cultural differences among Indians. ‘‘The trials have been conducted in girls above 12 years of age in other countries, but Indian parents won’t allow such trials. So we want to test it on girls of 18 years of age. The company has agreed to increase the age in developing countries,’’ said Dr Ganguly.

The vaccine according to experts is to be given pre-puberty. India and developing countries are wanting to test the vaccine in older girls to suit the country’s needs.

The government is also talking with the drug company to cut the cost of the vaccine, which is priced at Rs 30,000 for the entire dose of three shots. ‘‘We want to make the vaccine affordable to Indian population. Once the trials are completed and the vaccine comes for mass production its cost is likely to come down,’’ he added.

Merck is likely to reserve the rights of manufacture in India. Glaxo is also in the process of manufacturing the vaccine, but their candidate is likely to come in the market in 2008.

Leading cause of cancer deaths

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of deaths due to cancer among Indian women, breast cancer is the second.

Out of 7 to 9 lakh cases of cancer detected in India every year, one lakh are from cervical cancer.

About 75,000 women, between 25 and 40 years of age die of cervical cancer.

Symptoms are irregular — heavy bleeding for long duration after periods or after sexual intercourse…